West Side Town Council encourages emails and phone calls

April 11, 2019 | Stephanie Trombley
stephanie@thereminder.com

WEST SPRINGFIELD – Several members of the West Springfield Town Council agreed during their April 1 meeting that emails and phone calls are the best ways for citizens to discuss concerns with the Council.

During the Town Council’s previous meeting on March 18, Councilors Michael Eger, Daniel O’Brien, and George Kelly shared that they had received mail correspondence and explained that phone calls and emails would help ensure a faster response to concerns.

At the March meeting, Councilor Eger shared, “I enjoy getting letters from the people in town. But the thing is, if you want a response from us, make it easy. Give us your email [or] give us your phone number. It allows us to respond a lot quicker. Give us as many options as possible.”

Councilor Kelly said, “I’ve gotten a few communications also and really, folks, if you want to get a quick response from us, an email or a telephone is always good. My telephone number is in the telephone book. I believe my cell phone number is on the town website. I’ll give you a quick response.”

During the same meeting, Councilor O’Brien explained that he has received letters from citizens who are concerned with the West Springfield Public Schools budget. “I’ve been getting letters from concerned citizens concerning the topic that was just brought up, urging us to approve the school budget. But the letters, I’ve just got the second letter from Mr. LaDue, and he’s wondering why I haven’t gotten back to him. [It’s] because he didn’t put his telephone number down. If he had put that down, I would’ve called him immediately.”

O’Brien continued, “I also invite them to come to the standing subcommittee hearings to hear the discussions on the school budget and for them to understand that we are the City Council, not the School Committee. Our charge is to scrutinize budgets and we can take away from them, we can’t add to them. We have a different mission than the School Committee when it comes to budgets. I am always available to discuss those things.”

West Springfield resident Timothy LaDue spoke during citizen speak time at the following meeting on April 1, voicing his concerns about the responsiveness of the Council. “At the past Town Council meeting, three councilors openly lamented that residents like myself were writing to them, expecting that they actually write back in a timely manner about these issues,” LaDue said.

LaDue continued, “I find it deeply troubling when elected officials ignore the responsibility and in essence, blame the voters for not communicating with them on their terms. It makes me openly wonder how many other residents’ concerns have been ignored. Am I to believe that if my son’s third grade class wrote to you instead of calling or emailing that you would not respond to them? What message does this send to our future voters?”

Councilor O’Brien responded to LaDue’s concerns, stating, “I said last meeting that I have an email, I have a phone. To sit down and write a letter, I can’t discuss things in a letter because there’s no free flow of information. It’d be very simple to send me an email to set up a time, to call, I’ll call you. Anybody who calls me, I call them back usually within that day, but I call everybody back and then we can have a conversation.”

O’Brien continued, “To come up and say that we’re not communicating or we’re not willing to is disingenuous. I have a phone number; if you want to talk about the school budget, call me [and] I’ll talk to you about it. At subcommittee meetings, we talk about school budget. Come in to the subcommittee meeting. I don’t know what else to tell you. I’m not going to write you a letter because I don’t know what to say in a letter to address your concerns. Email, phone call, communicate.”

Councilor Kelly shared that he believes there is a lack of understanding in regard to the role of the Town Council and their affect on the school budget. “A lot of people do not understand the role of the Town Council. They should go on the website of the town and read the charter. The Town Council acts as a finance committee. We’re here to look at every department within the town, every single one to see that their expenses are reasonable and necessary. We’re here to make sure that everything is funded,” Kelly said.

Kelly also addressed concerns over an increased budget and its affect on taxes. “Dramatic tax increases do not go over well, especially with people who are on fixed incomes and who are struggling to keep their family fed and clothes and [with] medical expenses. And then, if they successfully get through the schools to go on to college, which is frightfully expensive these days. I join Councilor O’Brien. I have a listed phone number. I have an email listed. We’re on the Town Council page. If you had given me your phone number or your email, I would’ve responded to you. But I wasn’t given that option,” Kelly said.

Councilor Nathan Beck thanked West Springfield parents who have spoken out about their concerns. “Thank you to the concerned parents who have sent letters and who have come and spoken to this group. I just want to say thank you for your concern for the schools and for the town. We need more concerned citizens. Thanks for speaking up,” Beck said.

Councilor Eger thanked residents who have gotten in contact with him via email or phone since the March meeting. “I want to thank everyone that followed the prompt last meeting and emailed or called afterwards. When I get a letter, I want to reply. But at the same time, it’s very difficult to write a letter when you’re in the car. It’s very difficult to write a letter when you’re in a group home. It’s much easier for me to grab a phone, text, email, have a conversation and even if you gave me a letter and you left an email or phone number on there, I have multiple options to reply. And for those who emailed me, thank you. If I haven’t replied yet, just send me a little reminder,” Eger said.

Contact information for members of the West Springfield Town Council can be found by visiting http://www.townofwestspringfield.org/government/elected-officials/town-council.

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